2015-2016 President's Report

Instructor of the Year Mathematics instructor Jenna Wright of Madden was named the 2015-16 Instructor of the Year at ECCC. Wright, who has been employed at the college since 2012, earned her bachelor’s degree in math education at Troy University and her master’s in statistics from Mississippi State University. Annual Report Card The annual Community College Performance Profile, or Report Card, once again gave ECCC high marks in several areas that were above the state averages. East Central achieved elite status in the area of student success, particularly excelling in the areas of Associate of Arts graduation rates and preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions. Overall student retention within for-credit programs, the number of students served in workforce training activities, the number of students experiencing increases in wages as well as the percentage increase in wages after training from East Central, and the number of GEDs awarded were other areas in which ECCC continued to be a leader in the state. Reduction in Late Registration Period Since 2014, ECCC has reduced the late registration period for students at the beginning of a semester from one week—or five class days prior to the pilot four-day class schedule—to two days. Internal research indicates that every day a student registers late after classes have begun has a significant correlation with lower grades, not completing, or dropping out. With only two days of late registration, students now only miss a maximum of one Monday-Wednesday class or one Tuesday-Thursday class. Correspondingly, the attrition rate has decreased 6 percent in two years.

ECCC co-hosted the 2015 Lamplighters Conference in October with Meridian Community College. Three East Central faculty members were selected to attend the conference, which honors outstanding community and junior college instructors throughout the state: Luke Howell, collision repair technology; Cathy May (front left), mathematics; and Melanie Pinter, associate degree nursing.

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